AUCKLAND (Te Waha Nui/Pacific Media Watch): Te Waha Nui's online sister publication has undergone a serious makeover.
Launched yesterday, the new-look Te Waha Nui - published by the AUT University journalism students - is a more dynamic, interactive and multimedia site than its predecessors, says editor and postgraduate journalism student Alexander Winkler.
The revamped site includes a stronger focus on photography and videography, and is better integrated with social media, says Winkler.
“The old site was great but we needed something that better represented what is happening in online journalism today – and that’s more multimedia and better connections between the story and the reader.
“Readers will eventually get suggestions of other stories they might like. That’s one of our next steps.
“That sort of cross-referencing is vital these days,” he says.
“Our Twitter feed is more lively now, and readers and students alike can join our Facebook page.”
Like the newspaper, the site is student-driven at both its front and back ends.
Students from a number of journalism papers contribute stories and pictures, then Winkler and a team of students both edit the content and continue to develop the site as part of their postgraduate studies.
“Our first intention was to make it more visually attractive but of course that’s all part of the functionality, which also needed a serious upgrade.”
Journalism lecturer Greg Treadwell says it was time for the improvements.
“We’ve been holding the old site together with sticky tape, to be honest," he says.
“This will let students present their online work to the world in a way that enhances it.”
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